Twitter dominated by Arsenal FC-David Villa transfer speculation

Spanish players David Vila and Carles Pujol watch the game during the Euro 2012 football championships final match Spain vs Italy on July 1, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP/GettyImages)

Barcelona forward David Villa was 'trending' on Twitter on Saturday as a result of speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal.

A number of blogs over the past 24 hours had reported that Villa could be on his way to Arsenal this summer as part of a deal that would see Arsenal captain Robin van Persie move to Camp Nou. How likely it is that Villa joins the Gunners remains to be seen, and Saturday's Twittersphere frenzy appears to have little, if any, substance.

Reports in Spain, however, suggest Barca are ready to offload the Spain international to fund a bid for Van Persie, who this week confirmed he will not sign a new contract with Arsenal.

According to Barcelona-based publication Sport, the Catalans are ready to sell Villa to fund a €25million bid for the Netherlands international, and it has even been suggested that Tito Vilanova could look to offer the forward, who missed Euro 2012 through iunjury, to PSG or Juventus in a bid to see their interest in Van Persie end.

But according to Sky Sports, Barca are yet to make a move for Van Persie, and it is Juventus who are frontrunners in the race to sign the 28-year-old, while Premier League champions Man City and rivals Man Utd are the other two clubs currently challenging for his signature.

Barca paid around £38million to sign Villa from Valencia in 2010 and they would be looking to recoup much of that fee should he be put up for sale.

Prior to missing the second half of last season through injury, he had been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man City all thought to be showing interest.

Speaking last summer, however, the player insisted he had no plans to quit the club and insisted: "Hopefully I can retire at Barca because that would mean everything has been great for me.

"It would be very nice. I want to be at Barca as long as possible."

He was also linked with a move to the Premier League prior to leaving the Mestalla, however, and in an interview with The Independent last year admitted: "As a spectator I like the way Arsenal play with quick one or two-touch football. Their style would have suited me well.

"I also had friends at Liverpool and from what I have heard from team-mates, players learn a lot when playing under Rafa Benitez, but that did not happen."

"I got used to the stories that I was going to England."

Would a Van Persie swap for Villa go down well with Arsenal and Barcelona fans? Have your say below!

Despite another prolific goal-scoring season and the chance of helping his club Real Madrid to more silverware this season, speculation continues that Cristiano Ronaldo’s time with Los Blancos is coming to an end, and he is looking for a new club and a fresh challenge.